A stunning coastal viewpoint meets gorgeous native heath on the coast of Lake Macquarie. This is where you’ll find Awabakal Nature Reserve. On this adventure walk you’ll find plenty of surprises. I never get bored experiencing a new perspective of Lake Mac.
The Awabakal Reserve coastal bushland stretches approximately 228 ha from Dudley to Redhead and has quite an historic ecosystem. From the headland viewpoint to walking among the heath, you’ll come to appreciate yet another amazing spot we have.
Getting to Awabakal Nature Reserve walk
You can start at either end of this trail however, we decided on the Dudley end for our starting point. Head to the end of Ocean Road, Dudley and when you come to the cul-de-sac at the end, this is as far as you can go in the car. Park safely on the street, and walk in. The entry is along the extended road at the end of Ocean Street. Continue along this road on foot until you come to a gate. This is your Dudley end entry point.
If you choose to start at Redhead, your entry point is located on Collier Street. The entry point is adjacent to Kay Ln, Redhead. There are plenty of places to park along Collier Street.
This walk is a good 1 1/2 hours (at least) round-trip. It’s not a super easy track, so we think it would suit kids 8 years old and above. It’s not pram friendly and no dogs are allowed on this reserve. If you have little ones and want to check it out, enter from Dudley and wander along to the Awabakal Viewpoint at the headland. This is a lovely outing.
Awabakal Viewpoint
What a spectacular view of the north! This area isn’t fenced off so you must be careful, however, sandy tracks weave their way out to the point. Our view was clouded by the weather, although it was perfect walking weather. We could see right into Newcastle, and the east-coast swell was awesome to watch from above. There were surfers out at Dudley Point making the most of it. The vegetation on the point is gorgeous. We talked about grass trees and how they need fire to reproduce. We watched for whales and noted this was the perfect viewpoint for whale watching. Make sure you bring your binoculars along.
Dudley to Redhead walk
When you’re ready to begin the walk, double back from the headland and take the first track to your left. The journey through the various habitats is simply amazing. At first, you’re the only people in the bushland. However, this is a valued exercise track for the locals, so you’ll be sure to see others inside this coastal wonderland. The track widens, then narrows, and goes up and down in parts. One minute there is sand under your feet, the next leaf litter. Suddenly you’re out in the open with a view of the coastal health around you, then you’re inside an enclosed woodland. With the stunning flora, this walk is a unique part of Lake Macquarie.
Wildflowers to Black Wattle
From July to October, you’ll find a spectacular display of wildflowers. Although we discovered you don’t have to wait until then to see flowers. The whole area is bursting with colour. We loved all the banksia and paperbark trees. You’ll find tea trees, grass trees, bottlebrushes, and wattle, plus a splattering of flowers along the walk. If you take the track down to Redhead Lagoon you’ll find a wet eucalypt forest, a mossy bog, ferns and native orchids. This area has so much plant life. Learn more about Awabakal Nature Reserve in this Handbook.
Discovering Awabakal Nature Reserve
You can keep returning to this place and find something new each time. Take the track down to Redhead Lagoon, explore the side tracks, and immerse yourself in this reserve. The Awabakal Environmental Education Centre website will provide further information on the area and how they offer fieldwork excursions for our local schools from K-12. We also recommend checking out this map from WildWalks.
Grab your water bottles, long pants (to avoid scratches) and a backpack. We all know kids expect you to carry their stuff! Take a walk through this amazing piece of paradise. We know you’re going to love it.
If you love walking, check out one of our other walks in our Out & About section.
This local walk review is proudly sponsored by
